Rating: 
Summary: Comparitively Good
Review: I think that Alex Garland deserves some credit for creating a work that criticizes and keeps the interest of the reader. I could not put this book down and the fact that so many other works that attempt to correct mankind's vices are dull and without flavor made me appreciate what Mr. Garland was attempting to do. It is essentially a work of fiction and any or all inaccuracies should be overlooked as products of the work of fiction. It is true that some of the chracters were simply in the book to fill space, but overall the reader was dissappointed when some unfortunate incident happened to any of the characters. The book accomplishes its point that there are things that need correcting, especially the excessive pride and ethnocentrism that most people have. Definitely needs to be read. I will not present myself as an authority or as an intellectual, so my review may be null and void.
Rating: 
Summary: point missed.............
Review: After hearing mixed reviews about the movie, I finally decided to go and see it for myself.Although widely criticised for not being racially/nationally accurate, and for being superficial in plot and character, I think that many people are missing the point that Alex Garland is trying to convey. Richard himself discovers that what at first may appear to be Paradise, in fact turns out to be the opposite. Paradise only exists in ones imagination... and this is what Richard gradually learns. He travels right across the globe in search of new life and adventure, but only ends up in the same situation as his current life, albeit on a new island.
Rating:
Summary: !
Review: I thought it was a good book, but in no way comparable to Lord of the Flies, which is my all time favorite. It wasn't as deep, though it was exciting and well written.
Rating: 
Summary: Over rated and an insult to intelligent readers
Review: The premise of the book is ok, but I found the self-involvement of the characters very boring. As one reviewer said, it's true that many backpackers are only interested in meeting other Westerners, not learning about the country they are supposedly traveling in. Reading the reviews by other readers makes me wonder what kind of lives they lead when they express admiration for the repellent characters. ( Or those who say they thought about the book at work...what kind of jobs do they have? )
Rating: 
Summary: The Beach is okay: nothing more
Review: I heard that The Beach was a decent book, comparable to Lord of the Flies. Don't believe it. It's roughly comparable in plot only. While the story is a quick and somewhat entertaining read, the writing just isn't compelling. Garland makes a few relevant comments on society and backpacker culture, but story's construction falls flat, especially at the end (where, in my opinion, the story should have began). If you're looking for some light reading, you'll probably enjoy this book. If you're expecting something more literary, this will disappoint you.
Rating:
Summary: amazing book, terrible movie
Review: i read the book and couldn't put it down. it was amazing. i read it in like 3 days. then i saw the movie. it was HORRIBLE! for some reason i can't even fathom, they decided to leave out two very important characters, splitting their roles among others. things that never happened in the book were happening in the movie and the things that did happen in the book and the movie happened all out of order. i think i need to reread the book to get the movie out of my head. if you want to know the true story of the beach read the book and forget about the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Tried to like
Review: I read the reviews of the hardcover version & couldn't wait for the paperback version to come out. Maybe, because I am not a gen x, but I didn't get the story, didn't move fast for me. The only lesson I took away from the book, was be careful what you wish for.
Rating:
Summary: The Bleach
Review: One question: what's with all these western people fleeing as far as Thailand to meet their own people? Right, to show that western people always end up destroying what they build? That communism doesn't work in a capitalist mind? That the western world is everywhere you go? I don't think so. I think Alex merely wanted to put his thoughts down on computer games, how to put out a cigarette and the A-team in a book. But for this he obviously needed a story: a very weak and rather offensive story. Who says Sweeds can't speak English? Who says the English are cool? Who says the Thai are aggressive? Alex obviously has no clue about the world he lives in. I reckon that if Alex had spend just three months in Thailand with real Thai people, he may have had something else to write about. But obviously, Alex has never been to Thailand, and even if he has, he has obviously never sat down with Thai people and learned about their culture. Because if he had, I think he would have been more tempted to write a Thai story and come to the same conclusion that the western world isn't all that. This book basically taught me one thing: Many western people don't really care about foreigners. They travel all the way to foreign countries to find something western. Simply said: Alex did not have to make Richard follow the French couple. He could've easily made Richard say: "No thank you, I'm in Thailand now. I'd like to meet Thai people. You go find your beach. I'm going to develop my mind culturally."
Rating:
Summary: An adventurous journey!
Review: I have to truly admit that I have not read such a detailed and fun-filled book in a very long time! "The Book" not only can bring images to the mind but can make you feel the scenes that Alex Garland tells you! Once I read the first few pages, I was captivated and couldn't stop reading. You must read this book that brings you onto an island that was forbidden to enter...
Rating:
Summary: I will read the book...
Review: I have just seen the movie and its the first movie in a long time that has moved me and enabled me to identify with the people in it...Incredible cinematography, music, saw it twice..Generally the book is better than the movie (haven't read it yet) but don't knock the movie.. Its a beautiful piece of work.
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